Hello, gentle listener, and welcome to nocturnal transmissions, the fortnightly podcast that brings you dark tales, both old and new, performed by your humble

narrator, Kristen Holland.

This episode marks the return of a writer who, I am sure, will have left quite an impression upon you when last they

graced us with one of their literary execrations. Aaron Vleg, the mind behind Al-Qitab Al-Gul, being the singular memoir of Ibn Al-Warith, the only known son of Abdul al-Hazred, called the Mad Arab by some.

Episodes 101 and 102. because one episode just wasn't enough to contain the overflowing cup of abomination and nightmarish imagery that this story most surely was.

This time around Aaron swaps the sands of Arabia for the plains of the American Wild West.

Saddle up, compadres, nocturnal transmissions is proud to present. Making Ends Meet by Aaron Vleg. I just finished sweeping down the front porch for the third time that day.

If there's anything that puts daggers in my eyes, it's too much dirt and dust on the front porch.

But what am I to do? As far as the eye can see in any direction, that's all there is, pretty much.

Dust and the parts to the earth that flows like the sea sea itself, all the way to the Sierra Madrea weeks, right to the north,

to the south, east and west, it's the same, or worse.

I may do, though, not complaining.

Not exactly.

I'm all along out here, and I've been for a mighty long while now.

I went back inside in and took stock of things.

All I got here is this one big room and a loft up top where I make my bed.

There's a wood stove for heat in one corner and one for cooking, such as I do, into other.

Not much more to speak, I really. just an old sideboard a few books and that

woply tape on a couple of chairs. I changed my shirt and slicked back my hair, shook the dust out of it,

and set the pot on the fire for coffee. Then I sat down and put my feet up.

That's always nice.

Nobody to raise nile squawk when I'm not doing what they think are to be doing,

...